Archive for the ‘Investing’ Category

September 13th is Grandparents Day – a day when we can celebrate our grandparents and those people in our lives who fill that role. One reason to celebrate is because grandparents can provide us with wise advice based on their own years of experience. This year, WISER asked grandmothers at all stages in their lives for advice they would give their grandchildren on saving and retirement.

Saving Early

Linda, a grandmother of a four- and a five-year-old, said, “Every time you get any money try to save some back, even if its small amounts.” She also added that she hopes her granddaughters start saving early, so they can retire. Penny wanted her two grandchildren, seven and nine, to remember that “no amount is too small to begin saving.”

Want to help younger children learn about the importance of saving and planning for the future? WISER has a children’s book called “Sonja Meets Her Future Self,” which teaches kids the valuable lesson of Save, Spend, and Give.

Budgeting

Barb, who has three grandsons between the ages of three years and three months, said they should add retirement savings to their budget. Gayle, who has three grandchildren between the ages of 10 and 19, added that they should discern between “what you need versus what you want.”

Retired grandma to a four- and a five-year-old, Barbara, said “My advice is to save money, comparison shop, buy quality items, and to save a portion of all your pay for a ‘rainy day’…and always take advantage of employer savings programs like 401k.” She also added that if you have the means, use a financial advisor. Michelle, who has two grandchildren, ages two and four, echoed Barbara, “Definitely invest in a 401k for retirement!”

I asked my own grandmas what advice they would give me. My Grandma Greta has 13 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and one on the way, between the ages of two and 38. She said I should be sure to “have enough money saved to plan for inflation. It is more than you think it’s going to be.” She also said I should consider investing in property.

I am the oldest of my Grandma Wilma’s four grandchildren at 26, with the youngest being 13. She said, “Save money in a 401k or IRA while you are working. I’ve been saving my money the entire time I’ve been working, so I will be able to live, hopefully, without depending on anybody.” She added that she always had money taken out of her paychecks and always put it in a retirement fund. Most importantly she never borrowed from it.

To find out more about IRAs and what happens if you borrow early, see this page from WISER.

Thanks to the grandma’s who contributed their words of wisdom and happy grandparent’s day to all!

As Financial Literacy Month comes to a close, we came up with 8 questions we think you should know how to answer. They range from personal questions to straight definitions. Try answering them first, and then take a look at our answers and explanations for more information!

Questions

1) What is your monthly budget?

2) What is your net worth?

3) What is your “full retirement age” to receive Social Security benefits?

4) Every year, each U.S. citizen is entitled to one free credit report from each of the credit bureaus. Do you know the names of these three credit agencies and how to access your credit report?

5) Do you know how compound interest works?

6) What is the difference between immediate and deferred annuities?

7) How much do experts recommend keeping in your savings account for “rainy days?”

8) When trying to figure out how much to save for retirement, you must consider how long you expect to live (keeping in mind that women live longer than men). What is a good rule of thumb to follow to figure how much savings you will need to cover your lifespan?

Answers

Question 1: Monthly Budget

The first step to saving is to know how much money you spend, where you spend it, and what you can cut. Obviously everyone’s budget is different, but we have some tips to help you figure it out. Start by adding up your total annual income (after taxes) including salary and money regularly received from any other sources. Divide this number by 12. This gives you an idea of how much you have to work with each month. Next, keep track of your expenses for a month and organize them into categories. Make sure to include all of your bills! If you’re having trouble thinking of everything you spend money on, take a look at our budget worksheet to see common categories and expenses. These two steps will help you understand your monthly budget by showing how much money you have and how much you’re spending. If you are spending more than you are earning, you will have to cut expenses or find ways to supplement your income.

Question 2: Net worth

Net worth is your total amount of assets, minus your liabilities. In other words, it is how much you own, minus how much you owe to others. Again, your net worth will depend on your own finances. It is important to know where you stand financially when considering all of your assets. We have a worksheet to help you with this question!

Question 3:

“Full retirement age” is the age at which you can receive the full benefits of Social Security. If you were born in 1960 or after, your full retirement age is 67. If you were born earlier than 1960, your full retirement age varies slightly depending on the year you were born. Our chart can help you figure out when you are entitled to full Social Security.

Question 4: Credit Reports

The federally- recognized credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, Transunion. If you plan on making a large purchase soon, you can choose to get all three at once. If you are not, consider receiving a report from only one bureau at a time and spacing them out so you can track your credit over the year. If you are paying off debt, you may want to view your credit report over time to see where you are improving and where you may need some assistance. The Federal Trade Commission has great information about how to order your credit report and imposter websites to look out for.

Question 5: Compound Interest

Compounding is a principle in which the interest you earn on your original investment can ALSO earn interest. So, for example, if you had $2000 in your account, with a compounded interest rate of 10%, at the end of the first year you would have $2200, which is your original amount plus interest. With compounding, at the end of your second year you would have $2420. Your $200 worth of interest also earned interest. If your interest is not compounded, you would only have $2400.

Compounding is great when it comes to saving because that extra interest adds up quickly! But be careful when loans or credit cards have compound interest. You will end up paying more each year.

Question 6: Annuities

Immediate annuities are ones that pay a fixed amount for as long as you live, or for a certain number of years as defined by your agreement. Deferred annuities are investments that delay payments until a future date. There are some great reasons to consider buying an annuity upon retirement, including having a fixed, certain income. But as with any financial product, you need to do your homework to make sure it is right for you. We have more information and facts on our website.

Question 7: Savings Accounts

Experts recommend having about six months’ worth of living expenses saved in a savings account. This amount will help cover unexpected periods of unemployment or other emergencies. Even if you can’t easily save 6 months’ worth of income, any amount in an emergency fund is better than nothing. Check out our tips on saving to help you reach this goal!

Question 8: Live Long

Start by estimating your expected lifespan. On average, people who reach 65 will live into their 80s. However, since 25% could live much longer, experts suggest saving for an additional 10 years. While this rule of thumb is not perfect, you are less likely to run out of money if you plan to live that much longer. For more tips and information on living to 100 and beyond, see our latest newsletter.

At the start of a new year, we often set financial goals for ourselves. But many times our financial resolutions can be intimidating, even overwhelming, and sometimes it is hard to sustain our good financial intentions over the entire year. To help break down these financial goals into more manageable pieces, read WISER’s fact sheet “12 Helpful Tips for 2013.” In this fact sheet, we cover some of the most important financial steps women can take. If devoting an entire year to trying to keep up with all of them sounds challenging, we encourage you to tackle at least one a month. By the time 2014 rolls around, you will have taken 12 important strides in achieving financial and retirement security.

WISER

About Us

WISER is a nonprofit organization that works to help women, educators and policymakers understand the important issues surrounding women's retirement income. WISER creates a variety of consumer publications including fact sheets, booklets and a quarterly newsletter that explain in easy-to-understand language the complex issues surrounding Social Security, divorce, pay equity, pensions, savings and investments, banking, home-ownership, long-term care and disability insurance.

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